Waldo Cortes-Acosta explains lessons learned in short order from recent UFC loss

Show Caption

LAS VEGAS – Waldo Cortes-Acosta is set to appear in his fourth UFC bout since mid-March, and he’s absorbing knowledge like a sponge.

There have been more wins than losses. However, in the minds of many in the combat sports, you’re only as good as your last fight – and right now, Cortes-Acosta (14-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) is coming off a defeat to Sergei Pavlovich in late August.

“I feel 100 percent ready,” Cortes-Acosta told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a UFC Fight Night 263 pre-fight news conference Wednesday. “I have one month and a half of training hard with my coaches. I feel great. I feel good. … (I learned) to develop a little bit more in the octagon, to be better, to prepare myself better, to be ready to counterstrike and always strike back when something happens when I’m struck.”

“I like it. I like every time they have a fight like that, back-to-back. I like to be ready every time. I be every time around 270 (pounds), training every day, two hours a day. I told my coach that I like to be ready for every opportunity the UFC gives to me. I’ll be ready for that and get it.”

Cortes-Acosta takes on Ante Delija (26-6 MMA, 1-0 UFC), a former PFL heavyweight champion and a current training partner of UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The fight co-headlines Saturday’s event at the UFC Apex.

“I saw Delija a long time ago before I started to be a professional in MMA,” Cortes-Acosta said. “I followed a lot of tips that he did in the octagon before. This is my territory now. This is my town. This is my home. I need to protect my legacy. I need to protect my level. It will be a war this Saturday with this guy.”

Unlike his last fight, Cortes-Acosta plans to utilize forward pressure – something he think will get him the victory.

“I need to pressure and do my style. Pressure him, pressure him until the end,” Cortes-Acosta said. “This is my style.”